Woman suffocates after falling into large hole on beach

Ocean City beach death raises awareness about dangers of digging beach sand

AP FILE

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Authorities were asking beach goers to avoid digging deep holes in the sand after a 30-year-old woman fell in one in Ocean City and suffocated when the sand caved in.

Ashley O'Connor was from Plano, Texas. She was on vacation when she went out for a walk on the beach at night. She fell into the hole and suffocated to death when the sand caved around her. 

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When they found her, WSET reported, only her arm was visible. 

Authorities were investigating if she fell because she failed to see the hole or if someone pushed her, Ocean City Police spokesperson Lindsay Richard said, according to WTOP

 


About the Author

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

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